MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, on Friday accepted medical supplies and equipment worth U.S.$420,000 from Chinese Vice- Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission Cui Li at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).The Ministry of Public Health hosted Madam Cui Li, Vice-Minister (NH&FPC) of the People’s Republic of China, accompanied by her delegation, who are on an official visit to Guyana from September 23 – 24, 2016.

The items donated include laparoscopic instruments and equipment, eye-testing and eye-care equipment and materials. The equipment and supplies will be used at the Linden Hospital Complex Laparoscopic Centre and the GPHC eye clinic.

During remarks, Madam Cui Li expressed gratitude for the support bestowed on the Chinese medical teams here in Guyana. She said their medical teams have served for more than 20 years here and they strive to provide the best in health care in Laparoscopic and Ophthalmology locally. She also spoke about the long friendship and relations the two countries have enjoyed over the years and would like that to be further enhanced.
Meanwhile, China’s Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin said China and Guyana enjoy a profound friendship with more than 44 years of diplomatic relations. He noted that pragmatic cooperation in health and other fields keeps deepening and mutual visits and exchanges of health delegations are increasingly frequent.
He pointed out that Guyana is the first South American country to which China sent medical teams and 12 Chinese medical teams have worked in Guyana so far.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings said every sector in Guyana is experiencing positive reforms, intended to provide tangible benefits to all Guyanese, regardless of their locations, ethnicities and/or socio-economic status.

She noted that one of the major sectors currently under reform is the public health sector. The Ministry of Public Health is working assiduously to provide much- needed health-care services of the highest quality to all Guyanese.
“Moreover, this timely intervention will impact positively and in a major way on our efforts to ensure that quality health care service becomes the norm in Guyana.”

Dr Cummings disclosed that through bilateral relations between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China, they have been able to witness the establishment of an Eye Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the commissioning of a centre for laparoscopic surgery at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in September 2014. Further, there has been the recent establishment of a much-needed Trauma Centre at the GPHC.